A residential demolition may sound like an extreme choice for any homeowner, but this type of work isn't as severe as you might assume. A demolition can also be the best solution if renovating a home in order to bring it up to local codes, or to make it more comfortable for you, is too expensive or too time-consuming. You might also consider a demolition if you like a parcel of land you own, but not the home on it. Note a few questions you might have about residential demolition so you can discuss this option with a demolition contractor, and know if it's the right choice for you.

Is demolition bad for the property?

If you have mature trees, a nice garden, or other such features on the property that you want to keep and don't want disturbed, a demolition contractor can work with you to preserve as many of these features as possible. He or she may erect tall barricades around the trees so that they're protected from dust and debris and even cover your garden or other area for added protection.

Of course, flowerbeds and vegetation right next to the home may not be salvageable, as even the most skilled bobcat driver may not be able to work around landscaping in such close proximity to the home being torn down. It's also impossible to completely control the debris created as the home is demolished, so some of it may land on those flowers and shrubs. Your demolition contractor can tell you what items on your property should be safe, and what ones need to be moved before work begins, so you can replant them when the work is finished.

Will a demolition destroy the foundation?

Digging up a foundation is actually a separate type of demolition, as not all demolition jobs are meant to remove the building's foundation along with the building itself. If you want to build a new home on the same site, you may want to keep the foundation intact, or at least part of it. On the other hand, if the foundation is old and damaged, or won't be strong enough for your new home, you need to ask the demolition contractor if they can remove the foundation along with the building, rather than assuming that anything buried will be pulled up. This also applies to underground plumbing pipes, wiring, and the like; don't assume they'll be removed with the demolition, but ask about that work if you need those pieces removed.